While I'm a big supporter of the push for the electrification of the motorcycle, I'm not really a big fan of the sports bike or the street bike or off-road bikes - my tastes lean towards custom cruisers like the electric chopper from Orange County Choppers. Come September, the electric cruiser camp looks to be getting a new member in the utterly gorgeous shape of the Dutch Orphiro Electric Motorcycle. Unfortunately details are scarce at the moment, but read on for what we do know.

The Orphiro Electric Motorcycle is described as a wide body cruiser, and has been built from the ground up by Alexander Steegh and his team from the Fontys University of Applied Science - from the custom drivetrain to the tubular frame and panels. The five Li-ion batteries concealed behind smooth exterior covers are said to offer a range of 60 miles (100 km) and the 72V electric motor offers a top speed of 75 mph (120 kph).

A chunky belt drive connects the motor to the rear wheel, there's a "tank"-mounted console that shows speed and distance with a power switch underneath, and tire-hugging fenders sit atop classic spoked wheels. As you can see from the gallery, disc brakes also feature. Extended front forks, twin headlights and rounded mirrors complete the chopper aesthetic. The recharge time for the batteries is reported to be around 6.5 hours.

The speed and range is probably not going to persuade any hog owner to part with his gas-driven beast like, say, the Lito Sora might, but it does look the business nonetheless.

That's about as much as is being made available at the moment, although Motorcycle USA does say that a price of EUR 49,000 (over US$70,000) has been quoted - which suggests that mass production is unlikely.

You can follow the cruiser's progress towards availability at the Orphiro website.

While Paul is loath to reveal his age, he will admit to cutting his IT teeth on a TRS-80 (although he won't say which version). An obsessive fascination with computer technology blossomed from hobby into career before the desire for sunnier climes saw him wave a fond farewell to his native Blighty in favor of Bordeaux, France. He's now a dedicated newshound pursuing the latest bleeding edge tech for Gizmag. All articles by Paul Ridden

"The five Li-ion batteries concealed behind smooth exterior covers are said to offer a range of 60 miles (100 km"

Just a toy for people with more money than sense

ihateorange 21st July, 2011 @ 01:17 pm PDT

With all the electric bikes coming out I have to ask, why is no one putting the motor in the rear wheel hub and thus removing the need for a large number of parts and excess weight?

If memory serves me right GM invented a motor and new material called MagnaQuench for the magnets in just such a motor way back in the late 70s or early 80s.

With the motor in the read wheel's hub you have fewer things to go wrong, like a belt breaking or wearing and more space to put batteries. Better yet you lighten the swing arm and allow for better suspension and thus a better ride.

rdinning 21st July, 2011 @ 01:18 pm PDT

Once again a motorcycle that is more hype than useful. Really $70K for an electric motorcycle, and it only goes 70mph for 60 miles, maybe... Come on now E-V Concepts can build you a chopper style bike for less than 20K. Yes it has body work that cover a large part of the frame. But so does this bike, but cost a whole lot less. Come on people, look at what Brammo did, and for a lot less than $70K, for that price I could buy a small fleet of bike and have money left over to buy gear and have fun.

Also look at http://pmlflightlink.com/ they have been making electric wheel motors for the past 5 years. I have tried to get my hands on a few of these units for some projects that I want to build.

So stop making a mountain out of a very small molehill, when there are other bikes more news worth than this one and just about everyone can afford. This bike is bike Art, and No more then that.

shafferjoe 21st July, 2011 @ 03:26 pm PDT

and no silver solder at the high amperage crimp connections, that seems cheap or am I old school?

Bill Bennett 21st July, 2011 @ 08:32 pm PDT

Utterly gorgeous? Not only is it abominably ugly, it's also an utterly worthless exercise.

vzj 22nd July, 2011 @ 01:24 am PDT

Reluctantly and unusually, I must concur with the 'Negatives'.

My first thoughts on reading the article were that a 'cruiser' should be able to go all day on long journeys, and that the design with the retro rear end seems to imitate the old single seater Harleys etc.

I wonder why some electric bikes [like this one], have an unnecessary petrol tank shape in front of the rider, when a scooter design protecting the legs from rain or accidental incursion would be far more practical?

As to the price for a short journey toy, maybe most readers will have their own opinions!

As already mooted, this is just an impractical design exercise to be sought/bought by wealthy poseurs. I do, however admit to liking the overall image!

Ian Colley.

TexByrnes 22nd July, 2011 @ 03:31 am PDT

Yep, gorgeous it ain't. Anyone who spends $70k on it is a sap. Show up at Sturgis on this crapper and you'd be laughed out of town (if they don't tar & feather you first.)

MzunguMkubwa 22nd July, 2011 @ 07:25 am PDT

@ rdinning

i have to say that i am not a conspiracy nut, but do know something about business.

we would like to have a no-maintenance very-efficient vehicle because we are enthusiasts and consumers who want the best bang for the buck.

a retail manufacturer is more concerned about repeat business and the continued support infrastructure.

for business, it always comes down to profit.

for consumers, it always comes down to gratification.

if the consumer, and there will be a few, thinks that this design is going to meet the need for speed at an affordable price, there will be a sale.

at that point the concern for the environment and the burgeoning parts market will take a distant back seat.

we engineers are always told to engineer a failure point so that business can continue.

as long as people care more for themselves than others, it will be a fact of life that everyone needs a job.

so the answer as to why a lot of the technology promise of the gasoline embargo years has not come to pass is, it's just not good for business.

it would be nice if there were a very small electric generator that ran on renewable energy supplying power to the wheels with hub motors that lasted as long as we do.

we can only hope that an engineer comes along and convinces a manufacturer to produce what is best for us.

I agree that the motor should be in the wheel. The idea for the bike is a bit crude but is is a looker... but the cost is ridiculous and shortly these bikes will have normal price tags so I think the concept is not really sustainable...

Sydneysider 22nd July, 2011 @ 08:46 pm PDT

Ugly, and it won't sound like the big V-twins that so many of us know and love. How about basically taking a Harley or Victory and converting it to Biofuel or Hydrogen?

Julian Siuksta 22nd July, 2011 @ 09:09 pm PDT

The Vectrix has a 60 mph top speed, a 60 mile range (but not at 60 mph) and a price tag around $12-14K.

The X-Treme 5000li has a 60 mph top speed, 85mile range (not at 60 mph), and half the price of the Vectrix.

William H Lanteigne 26th July, 2011 @ 08:48 pm PDT

Earlier comments mentioned motors 'in-the-wheel'. I must admit to being interested in the viability of these for home experimentation, does anyone have links to info. or manufacturers please?

Ian Colley.

TexByrnes 27th July, 2011 @ 02:15 am PDT

Greetings! This is a great start to update a familiar design. With a few "tweeks" here and there, they might just be onto something substantial, a green, modern motorcycle, that will still appeal to those "old fashioned" styled riders. American Manufacturers:

"Are You listening?" GOD Bless!

nayehieona 22nd August, 2011 @ 01:20 pm PDT

A bike costs about $300 to build add an electric motor and some batteries and you can have a bike for less than $5000. Add a power lead to recharge it at shopping centres and you have solutions to the worlds problems.